Traditional Indian Textiles: Scientific, Economic and Strategic Transformation Towards Vikshit Bharat 2047

Traditional Indian textiles represent one of the world’s most resilient and scientifically adaptive textile systems, combining ecological sustainability, fibre engineering, artisanal craftsmanship, and modern industrial transformation. Rooted in the Indus Valley Civilization and referenced in the Rigveda, Indian textiles evolved as climate-responsive, region-specific production systems. In contemporary India, the textile sector functions as a major economic driver, contributing 8.21% to total exports (2023–24), employing over 45 million people directly, and supporting more than 100 million livelihoods. Strategic initiatives such as PM MITRA Parks, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, and National Technical Textiles Mission aim to integrate tradition with intelligent manufacturing, positioning India as a global textile leader by 2047. This chapter provides a scientific, economic, and policy-based analysis of traditional Indian textiles and their evolving role in sustainable development, global trade, and technological innovation.